Nigeria’s Triumph: Polio-Free Africa Child Refugees: What Do We Know? Get Active. Save Lives. UNICEF Kid Power Inspires U.S. Children to Fight Global Malnutrition SPRING 2016 Welcome Dear Friends of UNICEF, In This For many UNICEF supporters there is a moment — the memory of when UNICEF first entered the consciousness and the discovery of Issue one’s own power to make a difference by supporting UNICEF’s work. This moment often came as a child through Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, NEWS, FACTS & FIGURES FROM UNICEF and the realization was a spark that lit a fire for a lifetime, a drive to do good, to help others, to change the world. That’s why we are so excited to share the story of UNICEF Kid UPDATE Power — the new U.S. Fund initiative that has already engaged more than 100,000 children across the country. Get active. Save lives. It will surely inspire a new generation of UNICEF supporters for decades Refugees: What to come, while providing critical funding today, in the effort to end severe acute malnutrition. Do We Know? In this issue, you will also read about the stunning progress in the battle against polio, and how an entire continent was freed from ive years into the crushing Syrian conflict, hardly a day Page 7 goes by without a major news source reporting on the the crippling disease; discover the difficult day-to-day realities of Thumbs Up for F plight of those fleeing their country. UNICEF’s work on the ground in conflict-torn Yemen, where nearly UNICEF Kid Power And these legions of displaced shine a light on a bigger picture: worldwide, 60 million people are on the run today, 10 million children are in need of humanitarian assistance; and learn more than at any time since World War II. Twenty million about the U.S. Fund’s new partnership with the Special Olympics, of these are refugees. What do we know about them? which will help level the playing field for children with disabilities. We know that more than half of all refugees are women and children. Work such as this is only made possible by your unwavering We know that most of the displaced are running from commitment to UNICEF. We want to thank you again for all you do, wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. Many land in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and North Africa. for putting children first. A smaller fraction — 1 million last year — have entered Europe. As European countries close borders and restrict access, many are stuck in temporary settlements, afraid to move back and unable to move forward. We know that 15,000 Syrian children have braved uncertain futures alone, crossing the border of their Vincent J. Hemmer, Chair Caryl M. Stern, President and CEO homeland unaccompanied, separated from everyone and everything they knew. Page 12 We know that too many childhoods are being defined by suffering. UNICEF reported in March that nearly 90 Nigeria Beats Polio million kids under the age of 7 have spent their entire lives WORTH READING and Africa Does,Too in conflict zones; they remember nothing but war and loss. Yet we also know that many of these children — whether If you believe in putting children first, this is must displaced, migrants or refugees — are above all else reading — A Mighty Purpose: How Jim Grant Sold resilient. Despite terrible odds, they continue to try to the World on Saving Its Children. Written by Adam build futures. Fifield, a former U.S. Fund for UNICEF editorial Twelve-year-old Saja, who lost her leg in a bombing, director whose journalism has appeared in The plays soccer on crutches at her camp in Aleppo, Syria, and New York Times and The Washington Post, A Mighty dreams of being a gymnastics coach. Purpose recounts how Grant, UNICEF’s Executive Moheb, also in Aleppo, wants to be a lawyer. He studies Director from 1980–1995, overcame fierce resistance after everyone is asleep — in the kind of peace and quiet to lead a child-survival revolution. Called crazy and he hopes he can help his country regain one day. “We even dangerous, Grant insisted on simple, low-cost have to be united, work together as one and never let solutions for at-risk children across the globe. each other go.” Enlisting world leaders and rebel commanders alike, In Osmaniye Cevdetiye Camp in Turkey, 16-year-old he helped UNICEF save tens of millions of children’s Erji remembers the day she was torn from her home, In Baghdad, an lives. According to Bill Gates, Grant was “a remark- Iraqi girl peeks belongings and friends four years ago. Asked if she has a able visionary and results-driven leader … [whose] out from the tent message for the world’s children, Erji says, “Please do not work is especially inspirational ... We can draw Page 20 that has sheltered forget that we are kids like you. Once we all had normal lessons from his leadership now, in our own tough her family since The U.S. Fund Visits they were forced lives, just like you. Try to understand us.” economic times.” For more about A Mighty Purpose, Refugees in Jordan from their home Learn more: unicefusa.org/refugees. n visit otherpress.com/books/mighty-purpose/. n © UNICEF/UNI183541/KHUZAIE FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: © GETTY IMAGES FOR U.S. FUND UNICEF; UNICEF/2015/SANDLER; © U.S. FUND FOR UNICEF/2016/HERWIG; OPPOSITE PAGE: by war. EVERYCHILD 2016 1 FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGNS PARTNERSHIPS Tap at 10 Rise Up & Learn! Trick-or-Treat Turns 65 Ten years of clean, safe water for kids! Since 2007, the In February, during Black History Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF began UNICEF Tap Project has been Month 2016, the U.S. Fund for UNICEF inspiring a new generation unveiled the Rise Up and Learn in 1950 as a way for American of Americans to support campaign, a partnership with faith- children to help children in need UNICEF’s water, sanitation based African-American leaders abroad. Since then, millions and hygiene (WASH) and churches nationwide to support programs. This March, education in Africa. The initiative have gone door to door with participants were challenged built upon the success of last year’s their collection boxes on to put down their cellphones campaign, which supported UNICEF’s Halloween calling out, to unlock donations contri- work in helping to stem Liberia’s Ebola buted by our national partner, epidemic. Rise Up and Learn provided “Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF!” Giorgio Armani Fragrances, students in Malawi with desks, and raising nearly $175 million over the past 65 years. In 2015, more than a million children and by S’well®. To date, the school supplies and scholarships participated, helping to raise almost $3.5 million. The U.S. Fund is grateful for the support of Tap Project has raised for girls’ education through MSNBC nearly $6 million and host Lawrence O’Donnell’s Kids National Partners HSNi Cares, Key Club International and Claire’s; Promotional Supporters ® supported WASH in Need of Desks (K.I.N.D.) fund. American Airlines and MediaVest; and Entertainment Partner The Peanuts Movie . initiatives in 12 “We were thrilled to galvanize our countries. congregations, which have a long history of campaigning for racial and social justice, to support UNICEF’s great work to help children throughout Africa access education, one of their fundamental rights,” said Bishop P. A. Brooks, the Church of God in Christ’s First Assistant Presiding Bishop. PARTNERSHIPS IKEA Soft Toys — Good for Kids! Since 2003, for every IKEA soft toy sold during the holidays, the IKEA Q&A Supermodel, cents and mothers What special Foundation has donated at least $1 television host, by reducing challenges do to UNICEF’s and Save the Children’s businesswoman, inequities based Indian girls face? education programs, raising almost Heidi Klum Visits India with UNICEF fashion designer, on caste, ethnicity, I met with ado- $98 million to date. “Thanks to television producer gender, poverty, lescent girls in our 13-year partnership with the and UNICEF region or religion. Mirzapur, where IKEA Foundation, and the incredible Supporter Heidi UNICEF provides support of IKEA employees and Klum offers three Are vaccines still safe spaces for customers, ADVOCACY takeaways from a big need? them to learn UNICEF has her September/ Absolutely! about menstrual provided October 2015 visit UNICEF-supported hygiene, pursue millions of #SendTheCRC to the U.S. Senate to India. immunization education and vulnerable campaigns against discuss early children All children deserve the basic rights organizations to launch a social What are UNICEF’s polio, measles, marriage and around the enshrined in the U.N. Convention media campaign — with a focus goals for children tetanus, tuberculo- breaking out of world with on the Rights of the Child (CRC). on UNICEF youth supporters — in India? sis, diphtheria and poverty. The girls access to education These include food, water, health, urging President Obama to UNICEF knows other diseases radiated confi- and the path toward education, and protection from #SendTheCRC to the Senate. hygiene, nutrition, help save millions dence. Learning a brighter future,” violence, exploitation and abuse. At a time when children face education and of children each to speak out has says Caryl M. Stern, Unfortunately, while the U.S. conflict, violence and uncertainty health and social year. UNICEF’s empowered them the U.S. Fund’s signed the CRC in 1995, no on an unprecedented scale, the develop ment are work is one reason to meet their president and CEO. President has ever sent it to the world needs U.S. leadership to interconnected.